InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Foundations of Neo Genesis ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

A/N: *ducks behind flame proof wall* I know this chapter was a long time in coming. My muse has been a bit flighty and has her heart set on a scene that just is not ready to be written yet. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter!

Foundations of Neo Genesis

Chapter 6

The day dawned more humid than the ones before it. The sky was cast in a hard steel gray, with mist-like rain overshadowing the land. The soft patter of rain against the canopy echoed around them, changing in pitch and intensity by the weather's demand. The birds were silent, hidden away from the dismal weather. But the birds were not the only ones caught in the weather's depressing spell.

Despite the weather, Kagome smiled at the sight of the towering cliffs. After a short, albeit dismal, trek they had finally made it. The cliffs offered excellent shelter from the wind. Years of natural erosion had carved a good-sized hollow near the base. The hollow was about fifteen feet high, lower in some places, higher in others, and was an average of about eight feet deep; but one place was much deeper, the back unable to be seen in the dim gray light. She only cast a dry look at Inuyasha's back when he chose the deepest part for himself.

Wet, cold, and tired the group all took up places out of the rain. Kagome found a fairly deep spot and began to check her equipment for water damage. After assuring herself that nothing was in need of repair, she turned on her hologram again.

A red dot marked their place at the base of the cliffs on the west of the hologram. She could see the forest they had traveled through stretching across the view until it disappeared off the eastern and northern edges. To the south of the forest were the plains they had landed in. The plains area took up the better part of the hologram and only gave way when it reached a large body of water. Had Kagome not known better, she would have thought it was a freshwater lake. But a wider view back at the station, and samples taken by the probes confirmed it to be a saltwater ocean. It had clear, warm water, much like the oceans off the Caribbean or Australian Coast had once been.

Kagome pushed a button on the hologram keypad and the image was replaced with a blank grid. Her fingers began to quickly dance across the keys, but her eyes remained fixed on the grid. Slowly, the green lines began to bend and take the shape of a large cat. After a minute, the shape was filled in with a patchwork of black and orange coloring. She did her best to make it look like the cat that had attacked them. After adding some measurements she paused. She needed to name the creature before sending her report back to the station. Not feeling very imaginative at the moment, she shrugged it off and saved her work.

She flipped through her other holograms - mostly fruits and plants - but there was one other animal: the Fringe Gazelle, the deer-like creatures they had seen on the first day, and half-finished species of birds she had gotten glimpses of over the past few days.

"I'm hungry," Ricky complained from his place on her right. "When are you going to cook something?"

"I am not your servant," Kagome chastised without looking up, "And how would you like me to cook anyway? Cooking requires heat, and for that we'd need fire. If you're hungry there is still fruit from breakfast."

"But I don't want-"

"No one gives a damn what you want," Inuyasha snapped irritably from his dark corner. Kagome sighed, remembering that his bandages probably needed to be changed. She turned off her comp and pulled out her first aid kit. She heaved herself to her feet and walked to the back of the hollow.

Inuyasha was leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest and his head bowed. The ears on his head twitched at her approach and he opened his eyes to look at her. She stilled, watching him. For a moment, she was reminded of the cat. His slit-pupil eyes glowed in the dim light and she felt a shiver run down her spine when his lips curled away from his teeth.

"What do you want?"

"I'm just going to put on some dry bandages." She held up the kit and smiled disarmingly.

"Do what you want." Inuyasha shrugged. Kagome moved slowly to kneel at his side, setting the kit down next to her. She carefully began to unwrap his arm. To her surprise the wound looked much better. Rather than open wounds she found dark red scabs that looked several days older than they should. She sat back on her haunches and studied his arm for a moment.

"You do heal fast."

"Feh!"

"I see no reason to rewrap this unless I can't trust you not to pick at the scabs." His head snapped around to glare at her, his ears flattening against his skull. To his surprise she was laughing at him. He scowled.

"What's so fucking funny?"

"Can't you take a joke?" She smiled at him. He snorted and Kagome rolled her eyes. "You are impossible. Didn't you ever have any friends?"

"No, and I don't need them so you can just go back to your books."

"What's got your panties in a wad? Yesterday you were making fun of me, now you keep biting my head off. Are you homesick? Do you need a hug?"

"Do and die." He flexed his claws at her.

"Joking." She held up her hands in a pacifying gesture. "I just want you to know I'm here if you need me."

"I don't need you, or anyone else for that matter! Why do you give a damn anyway?"

"Why'd you save me?" she countered. He growled. She met his glare eye to eye. For a long moment they glowered at each other, neither willing to back down and look away.

"You're an insufferable wench."

"And you're a jackass." He growled, showing his fangs. Kagome swallowed, but did not back down. Inuyasha snapped his teeth at her and she jumped automatically, breaking eye contact.

"Coward."

"Jerk." She grabbed her kit off the ground and stood up. "I don't see why you have to be such an ass. All I want to do is be your friend and help you."

"I don't need your friendship, bitch. And I'll die before I ask for your help."

"Fine, be that way, see if I care!" She turned on her heels and stormed off. Inuyasha snorted after her and sat back down against the wall. The hard stone was cold and damp from the weather, but it matched his mood.

The night passed slowly for the group. Between the sunburns, empty stomachs, and the storm that went from annoying mist to raging thunderstorm, sleep was hard to find. The trees whipped back and forth and water slowly crawled across the cave floor. Everyone moved as far back as they could, and fortunately it was enough.

The next morning dawned, clear and fresh, the storm having blown itself out during the night. Kagome, with the help of Sango and Kirara, managed to find some more fruit. The work was simple because the storm had knocked a lot onto the ground. They returned to the cave to find the group had broken into smaller parties and were chatting among themselves. Kagome was surprised to see Inuyasha talking with Shippou and Miroku; or rather he was sitting with them while they talked. She sighed and shrugged it off, at least he had drug himself out from that far corner and was being semi-social.

Kagome shook her head to clear the thought, not even sure where it had come from. She followed the other two girls into the cave, trying not to think about the half demon. They set down their burden and took a step back as everyone came forward to fill their stomachs.

"Alright everyone." Kagome tried to call the group to attention, but empty stomachs were begging to be filled. Kagome sighed and grabbed herself some fruit before it was all taken. There was no talking to them right now and besides, her stomach was in knots from lack of food. Everyone ate in silence, too caught up in their meal to worry about whatever they had been talking about before. When they had all slowed down a bit, Kagome stood up again and clapped her hands to gain attention.

"Okay. Now there are a few things that we need to take care of," Kagome began once everyone was looking her way. "There are three basic needs that need to be met so that we are successful. These things are Food, Water, and Shelter. We also need someone to gather firewood. So, who wants to do what?" No one answered.

"Well, you seem to be doing a good job with the food," Inuyasha quipped, "But I'm not much for living on fruit."

"But we have those capsules, right?" Shippou pointed out.

"Only enough to get us started," Sango corrected, "A month's worth if we stretch it."

"A month!" Ricky squeaked.

"So, what else is there to eat around here?" Inuyasha asked.

"I think water is the more pressing issue," Kagome argued. "What we need is some way to carry and keep water here with us so we don't have to make a trek to the river every time someone needs a drink. While we're working on that, we need to make this place more livable."

"What, you want pink frilly curtains?" Miroku asked with a lopsided grin. Kagome gave him a withering look.

"I was thinking more along the lines of something for privacy."

"I bet I could do that. I took a basket weaving class once so it won't be that difficult." Kirara offered. Kagome gave a nod of approval and turned back to the group.

"Alright, we'll split up into three groups. Kirara will head the group to improve our shelter, Sango will lead a group to find food, and I'll take a group to get water. Remember, stay together and keep your eyes peeled. We don't know what is out there yet, so be ready for anything." With a nod of finality, Kagome rose and collected the canteens. The rest of the group divided themselves up.

Kagome turned around to address her group, only to find she was alone. A few people were gathered around Kirara and Sango, hoping to avoid being dragged away from their new haven. Kagome rolled her eyes.

"I do need at least one person to come with me." She reminded them. No one even paid attention. "Don't everyone jump at once."

"I'll go with you." Kagome turned to see Inuyasha climbing to his feet. Her eyebrows rose in surprise. "You need a keeper anyway."

"And I thought for a second you were being nice."

"Keh. Let's just get this over with." He walked past her into the morning light. Kagome followed. The warm breeze rolled over her and she suddenly realized how thirsty she was. She gave the canteens a shake and found one that still had some water in it. She unscrewed the cap and tipped the fluid into her mouth. She coughed, choking on the hot, stale water. It was only a mouthful, hardly enough to quench her thirst, but it was all she had.

"Do you want some?" Kagome offered another canteen to the half-demon walking half a pace in front of her.

"Not thirsty."

"You know, the feeling of thirst only happens once your body starts getting desperate for water."

"Do you do anything but spew useless facts?" Kagome blushed. "I said I'm not thirsty. You should drink it; you're the weak little human." Kagome sighed and let the canteen fall amongst the others with a dull clatter. The air around them was still thick with moisture and perspiration quickly formed on their skin. Kagome found herself trailing in Inuyasha's wake and in his shadow.

Her mind wandered over the many things that still had to be done. They would need to research what other life forms they would be living with. Then, everything would have to be tested to see what they could and could not eat. There was also the fact that they would have to start looking for replacements for their clothes. No matter how durable the material was supposed to be, they would not last forever.

Kagome was so lost in her thoughts she did not realize Inuyasha had stopped until she ran into him.

"Hey-" His hand came up to cover her mouth.

"Shut up." his hissed between his teeth. Furrowing her brow, Kagome followed his line of sight. She had to squint, but she could make out something large moving between the trees. Inuyasha darted to the side, taking Kagome with him, and ducked behind a bush. Kagome's hands fisted in the fabric of his shirt and she was surprised to feel a soft vibration coming from his chest.

Inuyasha watched the form as it stopped and looked around. He could pick up the smell of blood on it, old and new, and his gut told him that it was not something to be toyed around with. He felt Kagome grip his shirt and the tang of her fear seep into the air. It was a little unnerving.

The form moved carefully, almost picking its way between the trees. It was tall, Kagome guessed about eight feet. They could not see much from where they hid, but the creature had a long neck topped with a powerful-looking head. It also had a large beak like nothing Kagome had ever seen in her studies. She might have described it as eagle-like, but it was far too large. The head bobbed and turned as if it were looking for something.

After a long moment the creature moved off, melting once more into the forest as if it had never been. Kagome started to rise, but Inuyasha yanked her back down with an angry glare. The ears on top of his head twitched, focusing in the direction the creature had gone. After a long pause, he rose to his feet, senses still tuned to the world around them.

"You really do need a keeper. I thought you were smart enough not to walk around with your head in the smog."

"I have a lot on my mind." Kagome defended, but it sounded almost like a child who had been scolded.

"Like I care. Pay attention before you get eaten." Kagome brought her eyes up to meet his.

"Why do you care anyway? It seems to me you'd be much happier if I was gone."

"Keh. Why would I want you gone? You're the only person around here that knows what the hell you're talking about. If you kick it, we're all doomed." He turned and began walking towards the river again. Kagome watched him go, her mouth slightly open. After a moment she pulled herself together and hurried to catch up. Inuyasha did not even acknowledge her when she fell into step beside him. A thin silence stretched between them.

"Thank you," Kagome said softly, "for saving my life again."

"Keh." The rest of the way to the river was uneventful and the two did not break the unsteady silence that had formed between them.

They approached the water with caution. Inuyasha took time to take in the area with his sharp senses and Kagome waited for his 'okay' before moving. They both knelt at the water's edge to drink. At first, it was just cupping the cool water in their hands and lifting it to their lips. But it quickly became apparent that that method would not suffice. Soon, both were sucking water as fast as they could straight from the river. Inuyasha kept his ears alert, more out of habit then conscience thought.

"Not thirsty, huh?" Kagome teased as she sat back and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand.

"You're one to talk. Did you save enough river for the rest of us?" he jabbed back. Kagome chose not to retort, too content with her full stomach. The world seemed better all of a sudden.

"Inuyasha, can I ask you something?" He shrugged and she took it as a 'yes.' "Why is it that when I tell someone to do something they ignore me, but when you say the same thing, everyone practically falls all over themselves to do it? I mean you said so yourself, I know what I'm talking about, why won't they listen to me?" Kagome fiddled with the cap on one of the canteens so she would not have to look at him. Inuyasha picked up a canteen as well, but started to fill it. "Forget it, it was a-"

"It's because you never tell anyone to do anything. You always ask, and when it doesn't happen, you do it yourself." He capped the first canteen and reached for another.

"But I don't want to be mean." She knelt with him and began to help fill the canteens.

"You couldn't be mean if you tried." Inuyasha snorted. "You just need to be firm. Set your limits and stick to them." Kagome sat back and looked at him. Inuyasha capped another canteen.

"But…"

"No buts, no second guessing, just do it." He looked up to meet her eyes. "No one respects a person they can walk all over." Kagome nodded and went back to filling the containers.

"You know, Inuyasha, you can be nice when you want to be."

"Keh. Don't get used to it; I'm not a nice guy. I'm just sick of having to pick up your slack."